SCOTTISH government ministers were misled on the potential environmental impacts of a new gas-fired power plant, according to environmentalists.

New research commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoE) found that emissions from the proposed Peterhead 2 plant — to be built alongside an existing gas-fired facility — could amount to 1.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

This is five times higher than estimated in the developer’s environmental impact assessment, submitted as part of the planning process.

The report found that “serious omissions and shortcomings” in the assessment, not least “wildly unrealistic” estimates of 90-95 per cent rates of on-site carbon capture — a level not yet achieved anywhere on Earth — resulted in a “severe underestimation of the project’s climate impact.”

Researchers also found the assessment failed to include upstream emissions generated in transporting gas to the plant.

The emissions would only increase over the plant’s 25-year lifespan as supplies shift from dwindling North Sea reserves to imports of liquefied natural gas by tanker.

FoE’s Alex Lee said: “[Developers] SSE and Equinor have deliberately hidden the true climate cost of their proposals to build a new gas burning power station at Peterhead.

“Scottish government ministers have been misled through selective carbon accounting and wildly unrealistic forecasts.

“In a bid to lock in expensive fossil fuel burning for another 30 years, these greedy energy companies are making claims about carbon capture that do not stand up to the slightest scrutiny.

“These companies seem willing to say whatever it takes to get this project built, leaving the Scottish public to bear the cost of its inevitable failure.

“When the Scottish government sees the true climate harm of this project, the only rational response will be to reject it and focus instead on rapidly building up Scotland’s renewable energy future.”

An SSE Thermal spokesman said: “With the UK government committing £22 billion to carbon capture, there can be no doubt over its role in delivering net zero.

“We remain fully confident that planning consent will be granted and that a decarbonised Peterhead will help to keep the lights on, unlock a renewables-led system and create and retain good jobs.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live planning application.

“A decision will be taken by ministers in due course following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.”